Contents

Early life

Martinez states she has been a fan of professional wrestling since the age of eleven. Drawn to athletics, Martinez has competed in track, basketball and martial arts and has even done juggling and pogo sticking. At age 18, she began seriously training for professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2008–2012)

Martinez had been attending shows by Big Time Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion in Northern California, since she was 11. She started her professional wrestling career at the age of 18 in April 2008 by attending Big Time Wrestling's training classes by her head trainer Jason Styles, which was one of the reasons why Martinez considered Big Time Wrestling as her home promotion. She had her first match in September 2008. On the American independent circuit, Martinez wrestled under the ring name "Davina Rose". From 2011 to 2012, Rose branched out to wrestle for other promotions like NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and Shine Wrestling.

Rose first met her mentor Serena in October 2010 when they teamed together for a tag team match. When Rose made her debut for Shimmer Women Athletes in October 2011 at the tapings of Shimmer Volume 41-44; she became embroiled in Serena's feud with the Canadian Ninjas (Portia Perez and Nicole Matthews). At the tapings, Rose lost all four matches wrestled including her debut match to Mercedes Martinez. Rose continued to wrestle for Shimmer in 2012 and she received her first victory on Volume 48 as she teamed with Mia Yim to defeat Melanie Cruise and Mena Libra; on Volumes 51 and 52, Rose picked up her first two singles victories in Shimmer with wins over Cherry Bomb and Rhia O'Reilly.

On the September 25 edition of NXT, Bayley defeated Alexa Bliss in singles action, and later challenged Charlotte to a rematch for the NXT Women's Championship, which she lost on the following week. She was later attacked by Sasha Banks in a backstage interview segment, which led to a match on the October 23 edition of NXT, which Bayley lost via submission. She was later attacked by Banks after the match until Becky Lynch saved her; however, Lynch would undergo a villainous turn and attack Bayley in the ring. Later, Bayley formed an alliance with former rival Charlotte to feud with Banks and Lynch throughout the following several weeks. On November 27, Bayley was attacked by Banks and Lynch, injuring her knee in the storyline. She returned on January 21, 2015, saving Charlotte from an attack by Banks and Lynch. At NXT Takeover: Rival, Bayley competed in a Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship, but she was defeated by Sasha Banks. Bayley was again defeated by Becky Lynch on the February 25 edition of NXT.

Bayley began an angle with Emma on the March 4 episode of NXT, where Emma began mocking Bayley's niceness and stating that it kept her from winning the NXT Women's Championship, leaving Emma in the process of turning heel. Bayley was again confronted by Emma on the March 25 episode of NXT, and later argued against Emma's statements and said that the fans made her #1 Contender for the NXT Women's Championship twice. In response, Emma delivered a slap to Bayley to solidify her heel turn. Bayley defeated Emma on the April 1 edition of NXT.On the April 29 episode of NXT, Bayley was defeated by Dana Brooke after a distraction by Emma. Bayley would gain revenge on Emma the following week, where she would attack her after Emma's loss to Charlotte in a match. At NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable on May 20, Bayley teamed up with Charlotte to defeat Emma and Dana Brooke. On the May 27 episode of NXT, Bayley was defeated by Emma via submission, and after the match, she and Charlotte were attacked by Emma and Dana Brooke.

After some hiatus due to a broken hand, Bayley returned on the July 22 episode of NXT, where she defeated Emma and announced her goal to become the next NXT Women's Champion. Bayley would then challenge Charlotte to a match, which Bayley won, on the August 5 episode of NXT. On the August 12 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Becky Lynch in a Number One Contender's Match to earn a shot at the NXT Women's Championship against Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. At the event, Bayley defeated Banks to capture the NXT Women's Championship. After the match, Bayley celebrated with Banks, Becky Lynch and Charlotte. Bayley successfully defended it against Banks at NXT Takeover: Respect in a 30 minute Iron Man Match. Bayley would continue to defend it against the likes of Nia Jax, Eva Marie, Carmella and Alexa Bliss, until Asuka unseated her at Takeover: Dallas, by passing out to the Asuka Lock.

On July 24 at Battleground, Bayley made her WWE main roster and pay-per-view debut in a one-off appearance as Sasha Banks's mystery tag team partner, defeating Charlotte and Dana Brooke. On the July 27 episode of NXT, Bayley asked NXT's general manager William Regal a rematch against Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, which he granted. Two weeks later on the August 10 episode of NXT, a contract signing was held between both women, which they would signed and subsequently accept. At the event on August 20, Bayley failed to regain the title.

Raw (2016–present)

On the August 22, 2016 episode of Raw, Bayley officially debuted on the main roster and challenged the WWE Women's ChampionCharlotte for her title, with Charrlotte denying the challenge and instead volunteered her protege Dana Brooke to face Bayley instead. Bayley won and challenged Charlotte for the title at Clash of Champions. That match resulted into a Triple Threat alongside Sasha Banks, which Charlotte retained.